🎙 FM Sergey Lavrov’s remarks at the reception on Africa Day (Moscow, May 26, 2025)
💬 Sergey Lavrov: Each year in May, we traditionally convene at the Foreign Ministry Mansion to mark Africa Day — a commemoration that holds profound significance not only for Africans but for all humanity. This date symbolises the surmounting of a colonial past and embodies the unwavering resolve of African peoples in their quest for freedom and justice. <...>
This year is marked by the 80th Anniversary of the end of the Great Patriotic War and the Second World War, as well as the 65th Anniversary of the UN Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. This is emphasised in the message from President of Russia Vladimir Putin. These epoch-making events are closely interconnected. On May 10, 1945, in a congratulatory telegram to the head of the Soviet government, Joseph Stalin, Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia remarked: “This victory, bringing us the end of the most savage tyranny the world has ever known, has ushered in the threshold of an era of greater happiness and justice for all peoples threatened with annihilation.”
☝️We remember and honour the hundreds of thousands of Africans who fought in the armies of the anti-Hitler coalition, hastening Victory. In turn, the defeat of Nazism galvanised the national liberation movement, accelerating the collapse of the colonial system.
Our nation made an immense contribution to the decolonisation process, grounded in one of the UN Charter’s key principles — the right of nations to self-determination. For many years, we selflessly supported Africans in their struggle for freedom and independence, consistently aiding the formation of young states and their comprehensive socio-economic development.
Today, Russia continues to foster the strengthening of Africa’s position as a unique and influential centre of global development. In particular, we support African aspirations to secure a permanent ‘seat’ within the UN Security Council. We will further assist interested African nations in enhancing their defence capabilities, countering terrorism, and ensuring food and energy security.
In recent years, the African continent, asserting itself as one of the pillars of a sustainable multipolar world order, has achieved impressive results. Such progress has largely been made possible by the collective will of Africans to address shared challenges and pursue common goals.
We welcome the dynamic development of integration processes, which strengthen solidarity across the continent and amplifyitsvoice. The African Union plays a pivotal role in this regard. <...>
🤝Russia remains a reliable and steadfast partner to African nations in strengthening their sovereignty, the foremost threat to which remains persistent neocolonial practices. <...>
One of the most dynamic areas of Russian-African cooperation remains education. Today, more than 32,000 African students are enrolled in our universities.
Our collaboration with the African Union and other multilateral structures on the continent is expanding actively. We see significant potential in fostering their ties with Eurasian integration bodies the #EAEU, #CSTO, and #SCO. Naturally, we wholeheartedly support the development of cooperative relations between the African Union and #BRICS.
Our commitment to deepening a multifaceted strategic partnership with Africa is reflected in the establishment of a new structural unit within the Russian Foreign Ministry — the Department of Partnership with Africa. On the agenda is the preparation of the second ministerial conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum, to be held this year in an African country. There is no doubt that its outcomes will contribute to the substantive groundwork for the third Russia-Africa Summit, planned for 2026 — also on the African continent. <...>
I would like to once again extend my congratulations on this occasion and wish the peoples of Africa and all those present peace, health, and prosperity.
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#Announcement
🎙 On Thursday, May 7, Russia’s Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova will hold her weekly briefing on current foreign policy issues.
🕙 10.00 am MSK
🕖 7.00 am GMT
🕗 8.00 am CET
🕒 3.00 pm CST
For accreditation inquiries, please contact the MFA Press Centre. Accredited journalists will receive details on the technical aspects of submitting questions.
The Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman will answer media questions received by the call centre.
❗️Accreditation is open until May 5, 10:00 am MSK
#Announcement
🎙 On Wednesday, April 29, Russia’s Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova will hold her weekly briefing on current foreign policy issues.
🕐 1:00 pm MSK
🕙 10:00 am GMT
🕚 11:00 am CET
🕕 6:00 pm CST
For accreditation inquiries, please contact the MFA Press Centre. Accredited journalists will receive details on the technical aspects of submitting questions.
The Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman will answer media questions received by the call centre.
❗️Accreditation is open until April 28, 10:00 am MSK
#Announcement
💐 As the 81st anniversary of Victory Day approaches, marking the end of the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945 within the wider context of the Second World War, it offers a moment for quiet reflection. The courage and sacrifice of Soviet citizens and Allied nations brought one of humanity’s most devastating conflicts to a close.
One initiative associated with this commemorative date is the Immortal Regiment, established to honour those who experienced that wartime period. In support of this effort, activists from the Russian-speaking community have recently launched a digital platform, moypolk.uk, dedicated to preserving the legacy of all Second World War veterans.
It recognises both Soviet soldiers, whose descendants now live in the United Kingdom, and British servicemen and women who fought bravely against fascism. The archive already includes records of more than 900 veterans.
Members of the public are invited to contribute by sharing family histories, photographs, and details of wartime service. The platform also offers the option to take part in the Immortal Regiment march online.
Find out more
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🎙 On Friday, April 24, Russia’s Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova will hold her weekly briefing on current foreign policy issues. The off-site briefing will be held in a hybrid format in Izhevsk, Udmurt Republic.
🕚 11.00 am MSK
🕗 8.00 am GMT
🕘 9.00 am CET
🕓 4.00 pm CST
For accreditation inquiries, please contact the MFA Press Centre. Accredited journalists will receive details on the technical aspects of submitting questions.
The Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman will answer media questions received by the call centre.
❗️Accreditation is open until April 22, 15:00 pm MSK
#Announcement
🗓On April 17, the first meeting of the CIS Council of Foreign Ministers in 2026 will be held in Moscow. Russia will be represented by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
The Foreign Ministers of the Commonwealth countries will review the results of inter-ministerial cooperation in 2025 and discuss prospects and key objectives for advancing integration ties, including in the context of implementing the priorities of Turkmenistan’s current chairmanship of the Organization and the 35th anniversary of the CIS, which is being marked in 2026.
An exchange of views is also expected on pressing international and regional issues.
📃 The meeting is expected to adopt a number of decisions aimed at strengthening foreign policy coordination and cooperation in the cultural, humanitarian, law-enforcement and other spheres.
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🎙 On Thursday, April 16, Russia’s Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova will hold her weekly briefing on current foreign policy issues.
🕒 3:00 pm MSK
🕛 12:00 pm GMT
🕐 1:00 pm CET
🕗 8:00 pm CST
For accreditation inquiries, please contact the MFA Press Centre. Accredited journalists will receive details on the technical aspects of submitting questions.
The Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman will answer media questions received by the call centre.
❗️Accreditation is open until April 14, 12:00 pm MSK
#Announcement
🎙 On Wednesday, April 8, Russia’s Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova will hold her weekly briefing on current foreign policy issues.
🕐 1:00 pm MSK
🕙 10:00 am GMT
🕚 11:00 am CET
🕕 6:00 pm CST
For accreditation inquiries, please contact the MFA Press Centre. Accredited journalists will receive details on the technical aspects of submitting questions.
The Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman will answer media questions received by the call centre.
❗️Accreditation is open until April 7, 10:00 am MSK
#Announcement
🎙 On Wednesday, April 1, Russia’s Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova will hold her weekly briefing on current foreign policy issues.
🕛 12:00 pm MSK
🕘 9:00 am GMT
🕙 10:00 am CET
🕔 5:00 pm CST
For accreditation inquiries, please contact the MFA Press Centre. Accredited journalists will receive details on the technical aspects of submitting questions.
The Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman will answer media questions received by the call centre.
❗️Accreditation is open until March 31, 10:00 am MSK
#Announcement
🎙 On Wednesday, March 25, Russia’s Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova will hold her weekly briefing on current foreign policy issues.
🕐 1:00 pm MSK
🕙 10:00 am GMT
🕚 11:00 am CET
🕕 6:00 pm CST
For accreditation inquiries, please contact the MFA Press Centre. Accredited journalists will receive details on the technical aspects of submitting questions.
The Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman will answer media questions received by the call centre.
❗️Accreditation is open until March 24, 10:00 am MSK
#Announcement
🎙 On Wednesday, March 18, Russia’s Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova will hold her weekly briefing on current foreign policy issues.
🕐 1:00 pm MSK
🕙 10:00 am GMT
🕚 11:00 am CET
🕕 6:00 pm CST
For accreditation inquiries, please contact the MFA Press Centre. Accredited journalists will receive details on the technical aspects of submitting questions.
The Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman will answer media questions received by the call centre.
❗️Accreditation is open until March 17, 10:00 am MSK
#Announcement
🗓The International Security Forum held under the auspices of the Security Council of the Russian Federation is scheduled to take place on May 26-29, 2026, at the ‘Live Arena’ multifunctional complex and the ‘Patriot’ Central Park.
The Forum to feature the following events:
• the XIV International Meeting of High-Ranking Officials Responsible for Security Matters
• a variety of thematic sessions (scientific conferences, roundtables, briefings, presentations)
• bilateral and multilateral meetings
• exhibitions devoted to specific areas of activity of relevant Russian agencies and organizations
👉The Forum's Core Events (.doc file)
More than 180 delegations from foreign states and international organizations have been invited to participate in the Forum.
Secretaries of security councils, national security advisors to heads of state, directors of law enforcement agencies and special services, and general secretaries of international organizations are expected to attend. Ambassadors of foreign states, representatives of the academia, and security experts will also participate in the event.
👉Russian government agencies and ministries, organizations and companies featured at the Forum
Total number of participants is expected to be as high as 5,000 people.
Forum's working languages: Russian, Arabic, Chinese, English, Farsi, French, Serbian, and Spanish (simultaneous interpretation will be provided).
👉Accreditation & registration for the Forum's participants (starts on March 17)
👉Accreditation for media representatives
#Announcement
🎙 On Thursday, March 12, Russia’s Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova will hold her weekly briefing on current foreign policy issues.
🕙 13:30 am MSK
🕗 10:30 am GMT
🕘 12:00 pm CET
🕓 7:00 pm CST
For accreditation inquiries, please contact the MFA Press Centre. Accredited journalists will receive details on the technical aspects of submitting questions.
The Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman will answer media questions received by the call centre.
❗️Accreditation is open until March 11, 9.00 am MSK